Putting target device



March 6, 1956 A. E. sToKEs PUTTING TARGET DEVICE Filed Dec. 3. 1952 4ingv the target area.

United States Patent PUTTING TARGET DEVICE Arthur E. Stokes, Red Bank, N. J.

Application December 3, 1952, SeriaI'No. 323,839

5 Claims. (Cl. 273-177) This invention relates to a target device and', more particularly, to a putting target to provide golfers with a` de vice for putting practice which is usable indoors andwhich indicates whether or not the ball is traveling with a speed and accuracy suitable to drop into a cup on a golf green.

In simulating putting green conditions indoors, one difficulty has been that it is not practical to countersink the cup .target in the oor surface. Therefore, the rim of the cup target has necessarily been raised above the'oor surface. To provide means for the ball to approach the rim of the cup, some prior putting target devices have included ramps which led to the cup. In such devices, the ramp created the artificial condition, which would not normally exist on a golf green, of an abrupt rise near the cup. This artificial condition required an additional force when putting, a force greater than would normally be required on an actual putting green; resulting in the mistraining ofthe golfer. Furthermore, with the use of acup'target, it is generally necessary to empty the cup after each successful put or, in the case of an unsuccessful put, the ball will return down the ramp and will interfere with successive puts so that, in eifect, it is necessary to clear either the approach or the cup after each put and the person practicing, therefore, cannot retain a set stance and have the opportunity to put several balls from that stance so thathe may fully analyze the control factors of aim and speed.

Other devices in which actual cups were not used, although providing means for indicating when the ball was correctly aimed, did not provide suitable means for gaugingwhether or not the ball was moving at the proper speed to drop into the cup, and, therefore, did not completely simulate actual conditions.v

An important object of this invention-is to-provide v,a target for convenient training away from the golf course, which simulates conditions found on a putting green;

Another object is to provide a device which will. determine whena ball is correctly aimed and is moving at a proper speed todrop into a cup, such device being simple andinexpensive to make and adapted for placement on a vflat surface such as a floor.

`Armore general object is to provide a target device in whichthe accuracy of direction and speed control of'mis- `siles such as balls directed at the target may be gauged and indicated.

The target device of this invention in its broader aspects includes a target area with a displaceable .sensory signal disposed in the target area and operable by a predetermined displacement by missiles, .such as balls,.,enter The sensory signal ymay Abe a bell which lis suspended so that it is displaceable with .respect -to-:itsclappen The invention also contemplates Athe de- -fleotionfof balls from the ktarget area after their .entry has beenwsignalled so that additional balls may be directed at the `target area without stopping to .clear the target area r -the approach thereto. The means for ball deflection include the'bell itself, which after displacement will swing back like a pendulum and deect the ball away fromthe 2,737,392 Patented Mar. 6 1956 target area in a direction away from the approach be cause. ofthe circular shapey oft` the bell. In addition, station-ary deflectors may bepositioned in the target area to direct balls toward the sides andthe rear of the device, The invention also contemplates theinclusion of anl additional or auxiliary signal which may be ofV the4 visual type, suol-ias a flag, which is operablebyexcessive dis* placement of the bell', selected amounts in selected directions,the auxiliary signal indicating when .the ballputted to the target is movingtoo rapid'ly'to enterl the cup. The operative, engagement means betweenthe bellv andthe auxiliary signal provide for diiferent amountsy of speed depending upon the` direction in which the putted' ball is moving. For a more complete description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings wherein:

Fig. lis a plan view of'a-device embodying-the invena tion;

Fig. 2 is a sectionalview of the devicetaken alonggthe line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another sectional view takenalongl the line 3 3 ingFig. 1';

Fig. 4 is a perspective view-of the operative connection means betweenthe bell and the auxiliary signal;

Fig; 5 is a diagrammaticV plan view o ffthe device,

The device shown inthe figures includes a base portion 10'to which is connected" a bracket 11 extending upward from'v the rear of the base, at the ,left in-Figs. l, 2 andgS, and extending forward over -the base 10. A target area 12 isdeiined on the base portion 1Q. When the device is used for a putting target; the target area defined-may be suitably marked lon the base 1 0-as acircleof the same diameter as'a standard golf cup, i. e. 41A in. in diameter. A. sensory signal device in the'form' ofa bell 1'3 having a clapper 15'may be suspended 4from the bracketl overhanging thefbaseportion 10 byrmeans of arnemberI 16 which includes a hook 17 and arthreaded shaft portion 18, the threaded shaft' 181 being secured tothe bracket by -nuts p19 threaded thereon, one nut being disposed on each side of thebracket 11 through which the lthreaded'member 18 extends. The axes ofthe bell andtheclapper are coaxially disposed withrespect lto the-I center of thetarget area 12 so thatthe'be'll is suspended above-the-target area and inside its perimeter.

Mounted on the base 10- is a raisedy portion 21,y which extends from the rear yof the base 10 forwardV into the target area as 'best indicatedv in Pigs. 1, 2 and 5,. The raised portion defines ball" deflecting surfaces 22 and 23 which convergev at lan apex 42 5 forming awedge'` extending into the target area V12.

The clapper 15 and the bell 13 are mounted for pivotal Vdisplacement on `they hook *117, asindicated in jFigs. 2

and 3; and, the clapper 15`1i`s mounted for pivotal dis- Placement onthe'fhook 2li/of the-shank '27 -which extends through the center of Vthe bell. Clapper `1,5 includes 'an enlarged disc bell-striking 1member28 so Athat only slight displacementfof the lbell is-necessary for contact of the-clapper element28-with the bell.

The target device is adapted -for approach Yfrom front side 43, atl the right side as viewed in vFigs. l, 2 and 5.

A cam plate 30 mountedv on lthe shank 27, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3, land 4; has -a rearwardly extending cam surface 31 `andtwo-upwardly-'turned-carri-surfaces 32. The cam plate maybe fixed to the shank 27 of lthe bejll and-moves when the bell VisA displaced vfor a purpose to be describedhereinafter.

An auxiliary signal device33 which mayfbe-of a=visual 'type Ais'mounted in the bracket-'11 upon afpivotshaft 35. 'The 4auxiliary signal -33 includes anfupwardly disposed signal :area 36 Jwhich* Wmay bedistinctively marked' as `a lvisual signal. Said signal -s'tadaptedto-.move upward portion 38 may be provided for retaining the member 36 in the slot in its lowered postion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in full line. The auxiliary signal 33 has a rearwardly extending counter-balancing portion 40 upon which may be mounted counter-balancing elements such as the nuts and screws 41 attached to the arm 40, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A slot 42 is provided in the forward arm 39 of the signal 33 to permit the member 16 to extend loosely therethrough. The forward portion 39 of the signal member 33 is provided with a generally flat undersurface as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 which is adapted to be engaged by the cam surfaces 31 and 32 of the cam plate 30 when the latter is tilted by excessive displacement of the bell.

When the bell is displaced excessively, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2, so that the cam plate 30 engages the undersurface of the forward element 39, the auxiliary signal member 33 is caused to pivot so that the forward arm 39 rises and the upright signal area 36 moves upwardly through the slot 37 so that the signal area 36 is visible above the bracket 11,

In operation, the device is placed on the floor with the base portion in contact with the floor or upon a rug, or if outdoors, upon the ground. The person using the device takes up a stance a suitable distance from the target in line with the approach or front side 43 of the device and puts a ball in the direction of the target. If the ball is properly aimed it will move into the target area 12 and contact the bell. If it has been struck with sufficient force to enter a golf cup, the bell will be displaced sufficiently for the clapper 15 to contact the bell 13 and give the proper auditory signal. After the ball strikes the bell, the diplaced bell returns to its original position and will tend to swing a corresponding distance in the opposite direction from the direction in which it was displaced. This reaction of the bell acts to push the ball out of the target area and thereby clear the target area for successive puts. The fact that the bell 13 is circular will cause the ball to be deflected out of the general approach area 43 for the ball tends to glance off to one side or the other. If the ball proceeds past the bell without being pushed aside by the return of the bell, one of the deector faces 22 or 23 will act to deflect it to the side and the rear of the target area. Either or both the bell and the deflector member 21, therefore, act to clear the target area and particularly the approach side 43 of such area.

As best shown in Fig. S, the bell may be of a diameter such that the center of gravity of the ball 50 must be moved within the target area in order to properly displace the bell for signalling a satisfactory put, thereby indicating that the ball would normally fall into the cup.

It will be understood, therefore, from the foregoing that the bell will indicate when a correctly aimed ball has entered the target area with sufficient speed to enter a golf cup.

The auxiliary signal 33 is provided to indicate when the ball entering the target area exceeds the speed which is suitable for dropping into the cup and therefore when the auxiliary signal is actuated and the signal area 36 becomes visible, the person putting will know that although the ball was correctly aimed, its speed was excessive and the ball would have traveled across the cup or would have rimmed it without dropping in.

It will be appreciated that a ball which approaches a cup on a direct line with the center of the cup may travel at a considerably greater speed and drop in, than a ball which is slightly out of line with the center of the cup, for the ball out of line with the center of the cup will frequently rim the cup and fail to drop in. To accurately reproduce this condition, the cam plate 30 which engages the underside of the forward portion 39 of the member 33 has raised side cam surfaces 32. The effect of the arrangement of the cam plate is such that when the bell is struck from the side, the displacement of the bell and the cam plate need be very slight before the cam surface 32 Vvengages the forward portion 39 and causes the signal 36 to rise, whereas the bell may be struck with considerably greater force when the ball is traveling in a direction substantially on line with the center of the target area.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that by use of the device described, a person may gauge his aim and speed of ball and thereby improve his putting ability. When only the bell sounds, the person putting knows that the ball was properly aimed and was moving at the proper speed t0 enter a golf cup. However, if the bell sounds and the signal 36 rises into view, the person is thereby informed that although the ball was correctly aimed, it was moving too fast to be retained in the cup. lf the bell does not sound, the person knows that the ball was not correctly aimed or had insufficient force to enter the cup.

In order to permit the ne adjustment of the cam plate 30, the nuts 19 may be adjusted so that the shank 16 may be raised or lowered to reduce or increase the space between the cam surfaces 31 and 32 of the cam plate and the cam-engaging surface of the member 33.

It has been found practical to produce the base and bracket portions of the described device from a single sheet of metal. The deector member 21 may be of metal, wood, plastic, or other suitable material.

The invention described may be carried out by means other than the described apparatus and the various elements may be changed and arranged in a different manner from each other without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

It will be noted that the invention and the described apparatus embodying the invention fulfills the objects of providing a target device for convenient putting practice, and that the invention provides a means of determining when the ball has been correctly aimed and is moving at a proper speed to drop into a cup on a golf green. It will also be apreciated that the invention can be embodied in a relatively simple and inexpensive device which in addition to having particular utility as a golf practice putting device also may be adapted generally as a target device to test the skill in direction and speed control of missiles directed at the target.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the elements which I now consider the best embodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the structure disclosed is only illustrative and the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combinations and relations described, some of these may be altered and modified without interfering with the more general results outlined.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A putting target device, comprising a flat base, a target area defined thereon, a bell and clapper, a bracket extending above the target area displaceably supporting the bell and clapper above and within the target area defined on the base, the bell being operable by a predetermined amount of displacement of the bell with respect to the clapper when the bell is engaged by balls entering the target area, an auxiliary signal operable by another predetermined amount of displacement, a cam plate mounted on the bell and engageable with the auxiliary signal for effecting the displacement of said signal, said other predetermined amount when the bell is displaced selected amounts in selected directions.

2. A putting target device for indicating accuracy and speed of the ball, comprising a target area for receiving balls from a selected direction on one side of the target area, means for deflecting balls from the target area after they have entered said area, a first signal means for indicating when a ball has entered the target area, and a second signal means operable by the first signal for indicating when the ball exceeds a selected speed from said selected direction and when it exceeds other selected speeds. from other selected directions.

3. A putting target device for indicating accuracy and speed of the ball comprising a target area for receiving balls from a selected direction on one side of the target area, a first signal means for indicating when a ball has entered the target area, and a second signal means operable by the rst signal for indicating when the ball exceeds a selected speed from said selected direction and when it exceeds other selected speeds from other selected directions.

4. A putting target device for indicating accuracyl and speed of the ball comprising a flat target area for receiving balls from a selected direction on one side of the target area, means for deecting balls from the target area after they have entered said area, a first signal means including a bell and clapper for indicating when a ball has entered the target area, and a second signal means operable by the first signal for indicating when the ball exceeds a selected speed from said selected direction and when it exceeds other selected speeds from other selected directions.

5. A putting target device for indicating accuracy and speed of the ball comprising a at target area for receiving balls from a selected direction on one side of the target area, means for deliecting balls from the target area after they have entered said area, a bracket extending above the target area, a bell and clapper suspended from said bracket above and Within the target area for indicating when a ball has entered the target area, and a trippable signal operated by movements of said bell greater than predetermined amounts in predetermined directions as caused by balls striking the bell and clapper at various angles and various speeds for indicating that such balls have exceeded predetermined speeds from predetermined angles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,136,708 Osborn Apr. 20, 1915 1,623,284 Stoddart Apr. 5, 1927 1,682,601 Cunningham Aug. 28, 1928 1,798,140 Byers Mar. 31, 1931 1,903,480 Ryan Apr. 11, 1933 1,961,060 McCarthy May 29, 1934 2,236,869 Daigle Apr. 1, 1941 

